PRESS RELEASES

Contact: Ghita Levenstein Carroll 303-492-8308
Moe Tabrizi 303-492-1425
October 30, 2003

‘Have you signed it?’ Yellow energy pledge cards make a big splash on campus

For Immediate Release

WHO: The CU Environmental Center along with other student environmental groups.
WHAT: Collecting signatures for the “Have you signed it?” yellow energy pledge card campaign.
WHERE: At the UMC fountain area, around the CU campus and in various classrooms.
WHEN: Wed., Nov. 5 and Thurs., Nov 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
WHY: To secure $100,000 from the CU administration to fund more energy conservation and renewable energy projects on campus.

This semester, working with CoPIRG, UCSU, Housing and Facilities Management, the CU Environmental Center is attempting to secure signatures from all students, faculty and staff members on energy pledge cards stating their commitment to reduce personal energy use by ten percent in order to obtain a promised $100,000 from the administration to be used for energy conservation and renewable energy projects on campus.

The drive for signatures, dubbed the “Have You Signed It?” campaign will include two events this week around the UMC fountain, Nov. 5 and 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with live music from noon to 1:00 p.m. on each of those days.

The cards list some simple steps each member of the CU community can make to achieve this ten percent, including changing the settings on computer monitors, turning off lights and electronics when not in use, and reporting energy or water waste to Facilities Management.

For the first time in over a decade, campus energy use is decreasing in spite of campus growth. In an attempt to continue this trend, Vice Chancellor of Administration (VCA) Paul Talbot will donate $5 towards energy conservation and renewable energy projects for every legitimate card signed. Talbot has committed up to $100,000 from the VCA strategic investment funds.

The week of Nov. 3 has been designated “Yellow Energy Pledge Card Week”. This week will feature throngs of volunteers with clipboards all over campus, and volunteers going into classes, asking students to sign the cards. Several student environmental groups will be tabling in the fountain area of the UMC on Wed, Nov 5 and Thurs, Nov 6 from 10-2. Live music will play on both of these days from noon-1. So far, volunteers have collected over 8,000 signatures. Another 12,000 signatures are needed to capitalize on the Vice Chancellor’s $100,000 commitment.

This campaign is part of the Environmental Center’s ongoing effort to reduce energy use on campus. Producing and using energy has huge environmental and economic impacts. For every second that lights and other electrical equipment are left on, more carbon dioxide is pumped into the atmosphere.

Using energy is of course a very integral and important part of our lives — however, cutting down on energy use through simple steps like turning off equipment when not in use makes a difference. Energy conservation efforts at CU-Boulder reduced campus emissions by over 15 million pounds of carbon dioxide last year alone.

The economic impacts of energy use are quite significant as well. CU-Boulder spends millions of dollars on energy every year. This year prices of electricity and natural gas are expected to increase. Every $1 increase in natural gas prices equates to a $2 million increase for the campus. CU relies primarily on natural gas — a good thing because of the lesser environmental impacts. However, the natural gas market is much more prone to huge spikes in cost. Reducing our individual energy use can help mitigate this cost.

If you have not already signed a card, please contact the Environmental Center at (303) 492-8308, or ecenter@colorado.edu to receive one. You can also find cards on the drop boxes located around campus - located in the UMC, Recreation Center, Wardenburg, Engineering, Business, and the Law building.

The pledge card campaign ends December 15, 2003. Please sign a card today so the Vice Chancellor will donate his money on behalf of your efforts.

PHOTO EDITORS: Students will be collecting signatures around the UMC fountain on Wed., Nov. 4 and Thurs., Nov. 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Students will also be going into classrooms and collecting signatures around campus. Contact Ghita Levenstein Carroll at the CU Environmental Center, (303) 492-8308, for more specific information.

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